Related to this story

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Two South Carolina thermoformers have merged and are moving operations to Greenville.

The combined operation will be based in the former PFC-Systems Inc. plant, which had specialized in heavy-gauge thermoforming for a range of industries. PFC merged with Blue Ridge Packaging, which focused on thin gauge thermoforming in Simpsonville.

The merged company has been named Blue Ridge Thermoforming LLC.

"This broadens offerings to our customers," explained Blue Ridge Thermoforming President Gary Sleight in a telephone interview. "We can now offer from five-thousandths of an inch to half inch in thickness."

Sleight said the new company is doubling heavy-gauge and thin-gauge thermoforming capacities but he declined to provide further detail.

The Simpsonville business brings 18 employees to the merged entity while PFC will add six. The consolidation will eventually result in the addition of another half dozen employees.

The expansion is being spurred by growth, according to Sleight.

"We ran out of space here and so did PFC," Sleight said from Simpsonville.

The companies expect to complete the consolidation in Greenville by the end of June. The merger became legal Dec. 20, 2012.

Blue Ridge Thermoforming has ordered new equipment to meet its growth.

Jere Davis, former CEO of PFC, is serving as the new company's CEO.

Greer State Bank helped arrange financing for equipment purchases and to expand the Greenville facility.

This report is a review and analysis of the North American Plastics Recycling Industry, including key trends and statistics based on 2013 performance. We examine market environment factors, regulatory issues, industry challenges, key drivers and emerging trends in post-consumer and post-industrial recycling.

This report analyzes the $20 billion plastics industry in Mexico including sales of machinery & equipment, resins and finished products.

Our analysts provide insight on business trends, foreign investment, top end markets and plastics processing activity. The report also provides important data on exports, production, employment and value of plastics products manufactured.